May 03rd, 2016

HOW ONLINE BOOKSELLERS CAN GET MORE BOOKS FOR GREAT PRICES AT MOM AND POP THRIFT STORES
 
Generally, book pricing is standard to Goodwill and other large thrift store chains.  But, Mom and Pops still need to stay competitive when these other, often more larger, stores are within driving distance of their store.  But in many cases, books at independent thriftstores  are priced from $.50 to $2. Sometimes larger books (art, photography, or current bestselling novels) will be priced higher. A lot here has to do with managements, or the owners interest in books.  Books are usually a low ticket item.  Clothing and furniture are the mainstay with most thrifts.
               
As with all retail sources you should ask the proprietor, or employees, if the owner is more often an absentee owner, when books are added to the shelves.  Write the days and times down and make it a plan to be there at that time.
               
Many thrift store operators will have more than one location. 
 
Here are the most important points and strategies when dealing with mom and pop thrift store operators:
 

• Be extremely forthcoming with your intentions—who you are and what you do, and what it is you are looking to buy. Handout your professional business card and dress cleanly and be well groomed.  Be professional in your appearance. You are here to built a business not to buy a use sofa.

 

• Build solid relationships and be helpful, open, flexible and willing to meet at different places to scan through or collect large quantity of books.

 

• Your mission is to be number one on their list.  You get there by being honest, tenacious and dependable.

 

• Pay-up when you realize a great opportunity for future business.  Do not hesitate to buy the business when you are dealing with a larger outfit with many stores. Buying the business in not buying for business per say. What this means is that you are willing to pay more to secure a good deal and build an impression with the thrift store owner that you are a wheeler-dealer and that you are in business and not afraid to make a commitment.

 

• Do not haggle when a good deal is presented, especially on the first deal. Secure the first and haggle on the second and all the others that follow. Nobody wants to deal with an compulsive haggler—it just makes you appear cheap, and you won’t get the calls in the future.

 

• You will always win when you pay a fair price. Most sellers, when they are short of space, just want to get rid of inventory that might take a very longtime to sell.  Books, individually sold, take a long time to sell.

 

• Call frequently and ask about large quantities of recently new inventory.  With all the rushing around and hustle and bustle of life, people forget easily.  This is why you call all the time, to remind them that you are the person to contact—you are a buyer, ready and willing.

 

• A sound thrift store operator will become, in time, a scout for you. This is because he knows he will have an potential buyer and a reliable one. He will be more apt to contact you even before he cuts a deal on a large quality of books to see if you are interested. 

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